When confronted with an impending unpleasant evening and bad mood, never underestimate the curative power of some inappropriate lunchtime conversation with your coworkers followed by some Petula Clark.

For the past month or so, the majority of my non-work related conversations have been about my mom. As someone who is not really inclined toward telephone conversations to begin with, having several of them a day with my relatives about a fairly unpleasant subject has not been my idea of heaven. I love my mom (and my dad and my aunts) dearly and really appreciate all the assistance and advice they’ve offered but I’m pretty thoroughly “talked out” on the subject of my mom by now. I’m not really avoiding it (it’s too important and I really sort of can’t avoid it) but I’m kind of ready to stop letting it dominate my life–and my website.

In other words, despite its major role in my life right now I’m not willing to be so completely defined by my mom’s illness– just like I wasn’t willing to be defined by my assorted health issues in 2001 and 2006, my breakup earlier this year, etc.

Therefore, I’m opening the floor to new subjects now. Any suggestions?